Better Fuel Filter Option?
 

Why are we forced to live with these dinkey-assed little $3.00 fuel filters that are so prone to clogging? When I go to the parts store and look on the rack for my new filter, its sitting right next to a few dozen others of various sizes and shapes.

Is there another type that we can use in place of the stock filter? Maybe something a whole lot bigger, that wouldn't be so likely to end up starving the carby?

Fuel filters seem pretty simple, I mean fuel goes in and fuel comes out, right? Seems simple enough. Doesn't it? Maybe I've been breathing too many gas fumes, but I haven't seen any mention of a better option by anyone.

Anyway, let me know what you've done to improve the situation. Have you found another filter that works better? Are there aftermarket types that are incredibly stupendously most excellent?

Seems like half of the people who show up here with a problem for the first time have to be told to change their damn filter. lol. We need a better option than stock. :smiley_12

I agree, my old BP 13b set up used an oil filter style fuel fitler, it was a screw in replacement element and I never had an issue with it, of course that billet mount and all cost a load more than $3....

what size microns or whatever do the fuel filters catch as apposed to oil?
maybe an oil filter would work in place. have a peadestal made and hook the fuel lines up?
i'm sure someone here could make something to work.

Well, I'm not really trying to reinvent the wheel here, just find a filter that is more capable of surviving and flows good enough for our carbs.

hmmm good thread.....your right though...There should be a better filter out there for our cars. i always have an extra one in my storage bins just incase!!!..

i dont know much wat i do know is that i use the clear one they sale at your local autozone or kragen its found in the section with thier engine dressup parts yes its about 8 bucks but it works just fine and oh yeah did i mention its CLEAR u can se any build up and just cahnge it when ready

couple suggestions.

1. maybe its time to clean out the tank?
2. maybe you could run 2 in parallell?

bigger is better

one before the pump and one before the carb are more than sufficient

i know the s14 (240sx) guys use z car filters because they're bigger and improve the transient pressure response in the fuel rail..

so why dont we use FI 300zx-car filters? i figure a FI would require higher flow than the low pressure carby model, and the z-car filter is like a freaking coffee can.

unfortunetly, my gas tank is now plastic, so i rarely clog fuel filters (though one clogged from sitting for 2 months.. go fig!)

On the race car, we used to run a universal type with a clear viewing design. Could clean it easy, elements are cheap, and you can see if debris is present. We sell them here at our boat dealership, like 6-8 bucks, with filter hsg., element, and three different nipples for 1/4, 5/16, 3/8 hose. lol

Cheers,
Travis

I could see problems arising with a fuel filter that's meant to have FI's high fuel pressure put through it if we used it on the carbed model.

Anybody else think so? I think we should stick to fuel filters used on carbed cars.

Jon

I added a glass filter on the line going from the fire wall to the carb. It has replaceable inserts that can also be cleaned. It is a staftey filter used along with the factory.

Well, my tank is clean first of all. When I replace my fuel filter there is never any sign of debris in there (broke the last one apart to check). But even though the filter was still "clean", when I put a new one on you could feel the difference in power.

I guess what I'm getting at is that I'm beginning to suspect that even the brand new filter is running pretty close to the limits of what the carb needs. So if it gets even a little big "slow" in passing the gas through it you experience issues. I'm looking for a better margin for error than that.

Whenever I fix or replace something on my car, I upgrade/improve/eliminate/modify whenever I can. I don't like to do the same work twice if I don't have to. Having a better, bigger filter on there would give me full performance for a longer period of time. Who knows, maybe it will provide more power right out of the box. Does the stock filter (even when new) really provide enough flow at high demands? Maybe a new filter is still a bottleneck in our systems?

Keep the thoughts coming guys. I'm hoping someone will show up with something like "I use the one for the Ford Explorer because its huge and fits great. I haven't had to replace my filter in the last 145 years". :)

Also, I agree that a fuel injection filter might cause issues since they are designed to operate at such high pressures. Thanks for your input so far...

How About This?
 

Hmm, just had a thought. What if you put a T in the line so you split off to two separate filters, and then joined it back up again before the pump. This should effectively double the filter material, without increasing the stress on the pump to get gas through them. It should also double the maintenance span between replacement. What do you think?

Running two filters inline would double the draw needed to pull gas through them, and when the first filter got dirty you'd still have the bottleneck.

Well, you probally are not on target here. I think maybe you have some line issues, maybe somewhat blocked.

Keep in mind that Sterling and rx7carl modifiy these Nikki's to flow much more that they did from stock. With that said I have seen several people get the mod done to their carb's and still run the factory style filter and the modded carb is pushing alot more CFM that the OEM version did, so I don't think the filter is running close to the limits like you stated above.

Why don't you run some Chemtool B-12 thru a full tank. Then replace the filter, unhook the lines from the carb and blow compressed air thru the line where the filter hooks up at back all the way to the front. Make sure to stick your lines in a gallon jug so you can see what comes out and so you don't make a mess.
Then you will know if your lines are clean or some what blocked from dirt and junk.

going on what fire said above, would it be possible or a good idea to run some sort of cleaner through the lines manually? Or maybe a 8 foot long 5/16 pipe cleaner lol.

I used a napa gold filter.. not sure what difference that makes but it stopped my problems.. it cost me about 5$ but i think they retail for about 10 to 15$ not sure though. I have not had a problem sence... but one day will just replace all lines with new ones.

What about something thike this glass and chrome one on e-bay?

http://cgi.ebay.com/FUEL-FILTER-CHRO...QQcmdZViewItem

low pressue fuel line for carbs is cheap. Just replace it.

lol, there's nothing wrong with my tank or lines. :) At worst, my fuel pump may be a little tired, but still runs well with a fresh filter. My biggest issue right now is the fact that my carb is quite thirsty (see sig), and the pump seems to do fine with a fresh filter but after a couple of months I can tell a difference (even though it still looks to be clean). Put a fresh filter in and viola, noticeable power increase. I don't like these little filters, I want something meatier, whether I really need it or not. :) I prefer industrial strength where I can get it.

o.t., but you should seriously think about a carter pump and holley regulator. thats carburetor injustice a new fuel filter just cant make up for.

im still saying use a FI filter, running a high pressure filter at below rated pressure just means it wont grenade in your hands, and the flow should be TONS better if you select a performance model as you donor filter. (z-car! z-car!)

or you could run a coffee filter in a modified pop bottle.

What j9fd3s said, and Kentetsu followed up with a diagram sounds like a top idea.

Fuel tank -> T piece -> 2 fuel filters -> T piece -> Fuel Pump

This way it is still cheap and they should last twice as long.. and if you are lucky, maybe all the crap will collect in only one of the filters, and you won't need to change often at all.

I find it useful having the see-thru filters so you can tell when there is crap in there.

Yes like what j9fd3s, Kentetsu, and H4Inf are saying, and to add to the idea, what one could do is have one filter and line bigger in size, and one at nominal size. The larger hose and filter should pick up most of the shit, while the other will get very little, becuase the larger one will displace more volume then the smaller therefore the big hose taking most of the shit, right? Thats my small addition to this thread.